Metro East Official Charged With Hate Crime

​Kevin T. Malone is facing several levels of embarrassment these days. A few of the (alleged) reasons:

1. As a 51-year-old man, he picked a fight with a 14-year-old boy.
2. As a 51-year-old elected official, he picked a fight with a 14-year-old boy.
3. As a 51-year-old elected official, he picked a fight with a 14-year-old boy -- and pulled his hair.
4. As a 51-year-old elected official, he picked a fight with a 14-year-old boy. And pulled his hair. And, yes, insulted him with racial epithets.

Malone, who is white, is a member of the Board of Review for St. Clair County. He's now been charged with two counts of committing a hate crime.

We've placed a calls to the Cahokia Police Department and State's Attorney Office and are awaiting a copy of the report that spearheaded the charges. But, according to recent articles in the Belleville News-Democrat and Post-Dispatch, Malone on July 8 taunted an African-American teen in front of his house by saying: "Why don't you come into my yard, (racial slur)?"

According to the BND, County Board Chairman Mark Kern said that his fellow Democrat should resign from the Board of Review, and State's Attorney Brendan Kelly has referred the matter to the U.S. Attorney's Office for consideration of civil rights violations.

Malone reportedly claimed he was taunted by the teenager before engaging in the fight. He is allegedly out on bail, but could not be reached at his house for comment.

On Friday, three additional St. Clair men (not affiliated with Malone) were indicted by a grand jury after issuing racial slurs and threats to a black man.